Zoning Law Rewrite Discussed at Planning Meeting

Two years in the making, a new comprehensive zoning ordinance for Bethlehem perhaps got a little closer to adoption Wednesday night, as the city Planning Commission held its fifth special public meeting to get input on the proposed ordinance.

About 25 people attended the special session at the to hear city Planning Director Darlene Heller summarize the proposal and participate in the discussion.

The Planning Commission must still vote to recommend the ordinance proposal to City Council before it will undergo even more scrutiny. Council will have its own public hearing to receive comment on the proposal before it votes on adoption.

Currently, there is no timetable on that happening, said James Fiorentino, the commission’s chairman. If adopted, this new ordinance would be the city's first new comprehensive zoning law since 1970.

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission also must weigh in on the proposal and has already leveled some criticism concerning the open space provisions and what it perceives is a lack of protection for the forested areas atop South Mountain.

Heller said city staff’s belief is that mountaintop protection is adequate because the law precludes development on steep slopes or restricts it by increasing minimum lot sizes. It also adds new requirements that force would-be developers to preserve a minimum number of existing trees, Heller said.

“They did have some comments, but in the big picture of the entirety of a zoning ordinance, I think they are pretty mild.”

The new ordinance would not aim to increase overall city density, though it would encourage urban infill development, particularly if it is “workforce” or affordable housing, Heller said. Developers of this kind of housing would get a “density bonus” for building such a project, she said.

The ordinance would also seek to encourage the re-establishment of corner storefront businesses, by loosening city requirements on off-street parking in mixed-use commercial and residential zones. Would-be shopkeepers would still need a special exception and proof that the space was once used as a storefront, Heller said.

The new ordinance would allow solar energy collection devices by right in most districts and the addition of such structures would not count against the city’s building height restrictions.

For a copy of the current proposal, you can look at this link on the city's website.